VH1 has set a May 11 premiere date for the "Behind the Music" special on PANTERA. A photo of ex-PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul being interviewed by Eric of VH1 for the upcoming program can be viewed at this location. The exact air times will be announced soon.

PANTERA's career overview CD, "The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits!" (Elektra/Rhino), was certified platinum on January 13, 2006 by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments in excess of one million copies in the U.S.

The 16-song "Vulgar Hits!" CD, originally issued in September 2003, was packaged with a bonus DVD boasting 12 videos, including two live performances. The bulk of the material was culled from the band's six major-label releases, but also included were non-album cuts "Cat Scratch Fever" (a cover of the TED NUGENT song that originally appeared on the Polygram soundtrack to "Detroit Rock City") and the BLACK SABBATH cover "Hole in the Sky", previously available only on import.

PANTERA's classic "Vulgar Display of Power" (Elektra) album was certified double-platinum in 2004, signifying shipments of more than 2,000,000 units in the U.S. since its February 25, 1992 release.

Rhino Video last week released PANTERA's "3 Vulgar Videos From Hell" a three-DVD set featuring all the band's videos as well as live footage shot during the Monsters of Rock gig in Moscow. Originally released on DVD in 1999, this version features the same content with improved menus and all-new Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. In fact, it is the first PANTERA release ever in 5.1 Surround Sound. It features: "Cowboys From Hell The Videos", "Vulgar Video", "3 Watch It Go", and "Pantera Live From Monsters of Rock In Moscow".Source: BLABBERMOUTH

Former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul recently spoke to MTV.com about the upcoming debut album from REBEL MEETS REBEL — a collection of a dozen tracks of countrified metal featuring controversial country singer David Allan Coe and the guitar prowess of Paul's late brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

"It's something that me and Dime really wanted to do a long time ago, but we were so busy with everything, we never could," Paul explained. "When Atlantic (PANTERA's label) passed on the REBEL MEETS REBEL record because they didn't know what to do with it, I was like, 'I'm not gonna go shop this. This just fell right in my lap, and it's time for me to start this record label that I've been thinking about and, you know, put it all together.'

"It is a lot of work, trust me," he continued. "Getting on a tour bus and riding around the United States and playing for an hour and a half a night is a lot easier than this stuff. But it's fun to be able to learn both sides of the business."

"His guitar playing on this record is incredible," Paul continued. "The cool thing about this record is, a lot of times when you're making metal, everything operates kind of like a machine. It's like chung, chung, chung — it's just power. And with this kind of record, it has a ROLLING STONES vibe. Everybody can kind of cut loose, play what they want, and all the people really interact instead of it all kind of being one big gigantic tank moving in one direction.

"So [there was] a lot of freedom involved in making this record," Paul said. "And it gave me something to look forward to and to live for because I've never done anything without Dime. ... It's been a long road for me to get to this point where I feel I can move on in my life. And that's what I'm doing, man."

Even without Dime around to play guitar, Paul said there's a chance REBEL MEETS REBEL could tour — so long as he can tap someone gifted enough to tackle the riffs. "I have a couple of people in mind that were really close to Dime and would be perfect for it," he said. "But we're just going to put out the record first and see how that goes. And then if the fan response was really, really good, I think it'd be fun to go play those songs live because they'd be killer songs live."

Dean Guitars has announced the release of what it believes is one of the finest guitars Dean has ever made — the Rebel Razorback guitar (photo), a creation of the late "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. Sculpted with razor-like edges, and points-to-kill, Dean's Rebel Razorback is a visual six-string weapon made for those who play like they've got a pair.

The Razorback was designed by Dimebag Darrell in conjunction with Dean Guitars. So far, four different Razorback models have been issued and heavy players, such as Zakk Wylde and 20-year old guitar phenom Matt Heafy of TRIVIUM — one of the hottest new players out there — have identified with its attitude.

Commented Dean B. Zelinksy, Dean co-founder: "Dime lived the guitar. Besides being a monster player, he also was a monster creator. He always 'Dimed' his guitars to the specs he wanted. The Razorback is a shape Dime envisioned and wanted us to create. I lost a friend when Dime was killed but I'm proud to continue his vision and carry on his complete legacy."

The Rebel Razorback fronts a painstakingly hand airbrushed, distressed rebel flag within its beveled edges and on the famous Dean V headstock. The flag pays homage to Dimebag's Texas roots. The Rebel Razorback has a mahogany body and neck and is equipped with a Floyd Rose tremolo, Grover tuners, Dimebucker neck pickup and a Dimarzio bridge pickup. The ebony fingerboard is highlighted with pearl Dean V position markers and a pearl razorblade on the 12th fret.

The Rebel Razorback lists for $6,667.00 and includes a Dean hardshell case.